Big thank you to everyone that commented followed or favourited this story so far! I really appreciate the support.

Here's where we start to move into the Prince Caspian storyline, the second arc to this story and the song for this section is 'This Love' by Taylor Swift.

There was an almost tangible change in the air in the days and weeks that followed, Miraz moved about the castle with an air of confidence that wasn't quite deserved just yet in Alessandra's opinion. It was as if he was certain the throne was already his now that Lady Prumpinsia was pregnant, never mind that there was half a chance that the baby would be a girl.

Caspian and Alessandra continued to see each other in secret almost every night they were together, and not always intimately either. Because of Miraz's overconfidence they never even attempted to stray from Caspian's room or study, their nights were spent either reading in his study, or reclining on his bed as he told her stories he could recall of growing up freely in the castle. Back when he and his uncle had a somewhat decent relationship, back when he still had his first nurse. He admitted that he didn't remember much about her beyond how much comfort her presence always brought him, she finally worked up the nerve to ask him what happened to her and his response made her heart hurt. How much had Caspian lost?

She told him what she remembered about growing up in an orphanage, she was so young when her parents had died she barely remembered them. Only what people had told her, it was because of them she even had a job at the castle anyways, her father was an architect and her mother was a seamstress. Both of them were well known and well loved so their deaths were unexpected.

She grew ever closer to both Stephanie and Bruno as well, it was nice to have her friends to confide in. She'd always been close with Steph, she imagined that their relationship was similar to what she thought a sister would be like, Bruno on the other hand she rarely used to engage with. But now she found herself turning to him for advice about Caspian, of course he teased her for it in that gruff way that only he could, but he was gentle as he helped her navigate her relationship from a man's perspective. Even when she blushed and stammered through a question regarding a man's pleasure he was gentle in his explanation.

The only person that seemed to have changed was Professor Cornelius, she still sat with him every few days for tea, but he'd taken to telling her about the Golden Age of Narnia. Most of the books he picked out for her had some relation to the Kings and Queens of Old, and she often got the feeling that there was something he was waiting to tell her.

Miraz had been leaning heavy each day into his role as current ruler, since Caspian wasn't of age yet, Lord Miraz was the interim ruler of Narnia, however before the announcement that he potentially had his own heir on the way there was some level of modesty to the decisions he made and his actions, but now that he had did he was slightly more reckless, more impulsive in his decisions with and without consulting his court.

And that wasn't even taking into account his relationship with Caspian. It had been distant at best, but now it was bordering on hostile on the part of his uncle.

His uncle was more present than usual on the training grounds, along with some of his men, always whispering and glancing at him in ways he wasn't sure what to make of. Most of his uncles' men and their loyalty didn't concern him, all except for one. Lord Sopespian was his uncle's right hand man for all intents and almost as bloodthirsty as his uncle was, and lately his uncle didn't go too far without the lord by his side. He was well aware that his uncle was building stronger alliances in preparation for the birth of his child, and he was doing the same, albeit not as obvious as his uncle.

Lord Glozelle, was the general of the Telmarine army, and another of his uncles confidants, he was however the more level-headed of the three. He'd been pushing Caspian and his troops harder and harder on the training grounds, it made him feel like the older man was preparing him for something that he wasn't privy to.

"Men," Glozelle called from his slightly elevated platform, immediately every soldier snapped to attention. Caspian followed suit a half a second later, "Pair up." He said simply and everyone immediately did as instructed.

It was something else that he noticed that changed during training days, there were a lot more one-on-one practice bouts as well as full on scrimmages. The one-on-ones he could handle, it was the scrimmages that stressed him out, he always felt himself fighting harder, as if the guards were going all out and actually trying to kill him instead of just training. He found himself looking over his shoulder constantly during these 'practice' battles and he felt like it was him against the entire Telmarine army.

Well, all but one. To his complete surprise Bruno consistently made it a point to watch Caspian's back during these bouts, he was also always the first to volunteer to pair up with Caspian. The larger man didn't hold back his strength by any stretch of the imagination, but Caspian didn't feel as if his life was in jeopardy. He wondered if Bruno was there in previous training and he'd never noticed, or if the older man just made his presence known more recently since the changes around the castle.

This was no exception, Bruno immediately made his way to Caspian's side, silently partnering up with the prince and practically daring his brothers in arms to try something.

What Caspian didn't know was that both Sopespian and Glozelle had been hinting that Caspian was becoming free game, and there was perhaps a raise in the future for the soul brave enough to try and take him out. Bruno would be the first to admit that most men didn't join the army because of their advanced academic skills, so the majority of the men heard 'raise' and went along with it, but Bruno knew better thanks to his friendship with the prince's lover. He felt wrong to refer to Lessy as that but he wasn't sure how else to describe it. That did make him wonder though, if he didn't have that friendship that made him protect Caspian in order to protect Les, would he be another soldier mindlessly following others and try to end the prince's life at the behest of his general?

Across the castle, Alessandra was carrying on with her daily duties, she too had noticed the change around the castle and with Lord Miraz. She tried to ignore most of her instincts telling her that something was wrong and carried out her duties as if she was like any other maid, as if she didn't spend most of her nights wrapped up in the prince's arms. She had been placed in a new position, now that Lady Prumpinsia was pregnant she had taken on more maids and those that were left were spread thin.

Alessandra herself was currently making her way to the meeting room where Lord Miraz and Lord Sopespian were. They spent quite a lot of time there, sometimes with General Glozelle and a small council of Lord's, but most times not. She quite honestly hated serving them, since there were rarely more than two of them in the room they only required a single maid to serve them, the days were split between herself and another maid.

Aside from Miraz being Caspian's uncle and just the thought that he could know about their relationship made her tremble, both men just made her uncomfortable. She could feel their lingering stares when her back was to them pouring their wine and even when she turned around. They also often spoke to each other in a language she didn't understand, the old language of the Telmarines had all but died off and very few people spoke it, maids and other servants were not amoung them. She wasn't even aware that the language was still even being spoken, even among the Lords, it made her wonder why, what secrets were they telling? And did Caspian speak it as well.

The door to the meeting room opened, and their conversation stopped long enough to see who it was. Upon seeing that it was just Alessandra, an inconsequential maid the men continued their conversation although in the old language.

"Recuerdo una época en que las criadas servían para más de un propósito." Her ears strained trying to pick up certain words so that she could ask Caspian what they meant.

"Cuando tome el trono," As Miraz spoke she moved closer to them to set their wine glasses down on the table between them, "Estas mujeres serán las putas que nacieron para ser." she flinched and pulled away when she felt fingers touching the back of her arm, the reaction completely involuntary but she froze when she realized what she'd done.

She wasn't sure whether to be glad that Miraz didn't look that affronted, however her heart pounded when she turned and the slight shift caused her chain to slip slightly, she could see the moment the older man's eyes locked onto the slightly exposed gem. Thankfully it hadn't fallen completely from her top so she quickly straightened herself and moved back to her cart.

"Will that be all My Lord's?" she asked, thanking Aslan that her voice didn't shake.

"Yes," Lord Sosepian answered, while Miraz's look of curiosity made her uncomfortable for an entirely different reason, "You're dismissed."

Without further adieu she scurried out the room, her heart pounding in her ears. She slipped into one of the passages and barely closed the door behind her before she collapsed back against the wall, her hand covers her mouth as her breathing increased so as to not be overheard, forcing herself to breathe through her nose. She sunk down as her knees trembled, not bothering to bear her weight any longer.

True fear seized her heart even though she hadn't been accused of anything yet, just the thought that Miraz could find out was enough to send her into a panic. It took longer than she would have liked for her breathing to return to normal, the trembling in her hands didn't cease but she was at least able to stand, a cool breeze blew through the passage and it smelled like rain, the scent helped to further sooth her as she carefully began to make her way to the professor's study.

She had hoped that by the time she arrived her nerves would have settled, unfortunately that wasn't the case. Her hands still shook as she poured his tea and the professor took notice covering her hands with his and helping her to set the pot down, she thankfully at least hadn't spilled any of the tea.

"What troubles you my dear?" he asked gently, urging her to sit beside him.

She took a deep breath pressing her palms into her face for a moment before letting it out and reaching for the chain pulling it up to expose the pendant, "Do you recognize this?"

The older man's brow furrowed, "I do not," he told her, his tone suggesting that he didn't quite understand why the jewellery was causing so much turmoil, "Did Caspian give that to you?"

She nodded, before taking another breath, "Which is probably why his uncle recognized it."

His eyes widened slightly behind his spectacles, "Did he say anything?"

"He didn't, so I can't be sure. But he gave me this look that seemed," she sighed, "I can't be sure." she repeated at last with a tone of defeat.

"There's always the chance that-" he was cut off when the knob to his study rattled, "Quickly,' he urged standing and replacing the teapot in her hands, "Your duties." he moved as quickly as he could to put some distance between them and made it to one of his many bookshelves as the door open and in strolled Miraz.

Her heart all but stopped in her chest as he made his way deeper into the room, "Lord Miraz," the professor didn't bother to mask the shock in his voice, "What brings you?"

"Forgive my intrusion Doctor," he said brushing off the older man, his dark eyes set on where Alessandra stood now dusting off the professor's desk, "Come here girl." her head was turned slightly so he couldn't see the way she closed her eyes, steeling herself, before opening them and making her way over.

"Lord Miraz, I don't understand," Professor Cornelius tried to intervene as best he could but was cut off.

"Silence," Miraz snapped, studying her, "You are the maid that served my wine, yes?"

"Yes sir." Alessandra was proud of the fact that her voice didn't shake.

"I couldn't help but notice your," his eyes darted down briefly, "Trinket."

"I didn't realize it was so eye-catching catching," perhaps evasion would be her best strategy.

"Surely not," he huffed looking down again, "Tell me girl," Miraz said nonchalantly, trailing his fingers over the papers that lined the Professor's desk, "How does a maid come to own a trinket such as that?" he hummed looking up at her and she was glad the he and Caspian didn't share any physical characteristics aside from the dark hair and tanned skin most Telmarines shared Miraz's eyes were several shades lighter than Caspian's, she was already nervous and she might have had a breakdown had he looked like the man she loved, "It's quite expensive no?"

"I didn't steal it, if that's what you mean." she gritted out after a moment, doing her best not to glance over and Professor Cornelius for strength.

"I am sure you didn't," Miraz laughed, but it was without humour as he ran his fingers along the professor's desk, idly skimming the books there, "No, a trinket like that is most often gifted no?"

"And if it was?" she shot back and he clearly wasn't expecting that, he most likely wasn't expecting any of her responses, "I fail to see how a gift such as this warrants such a visit, Lord Miraz."

His lip curled in and looked like the beginning of a smirk, "I am sure that, the champion who gifted that to you, knows its value."

"Most certainly."

"And does he," he took a step closer and she resisted the urge to take one back, "Know your value?"

"Most certainly."

They stood in a tense silence for a long moment, before Miraz blew a breath through his nose, seemingly conceding for the moment, "Enjoy the rest of your day girl." He said before turning and, making his way to the door, "Professor."

"My Lord," Cornelius said as Miraz finally left, as soon as the door closed Alessandra all but collapsed falling into the chair. Professor Cornelius rushed over to her as quickly as he could, "It's alright, it's alright," he said placing a hand on her shoulder after putting the teacup in her hand, presumably for something for her to hold onto and ground herself, "He wasn't expecting you to respond the way you did, you surprised him."

"Is that good?" She asked shyly.

"I cannot be sure my dear, breath," he instructed gently when her breathing increased. "Listen to me, you surprised him. I'm sure he expected you to falter but you stood your ground."

"What if he goes after Caspian?"

"Miraz needs to maintain face, he cannot make a move against Caspian until he is secure in his heir, otherwise he'll lose the alliances he's been building."

That made her feel slightly better, but it just reinforced the idea that Caspian's life was potentially on a time limit.

He placed a hand over hers and his look suddenly shifted from concerned to serious, "Do you love Caspian?"

"More than anything," she answered automatically despite her confusion on the sudden change of tone.

"Then there's something you should know," he stood and went around the room closing the door and locking it, pulling the curtains closed on the windows and closing the side door which she had come through, "How much do you know about the Golden Age of Narnia?" He asked, speaking softly as he came back to her side.

"Not much," she responded honestly, when he didn't say anything she went on, "Just stories, rumours I guess. The land used to be ruled by talking animals, dwarves and the like, then they all retreated to the woods when our ancestors came to Narnia."

"Your ancestors." Cornelius corrected much to her confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"The stories you learned throughout your childhood aren't just stories," he informed her, pulling out the book he'd been having her read the past few weeks and flipping through the pages, "Look."

"It's just an old children's book," she told him shakily.

He smiled softly and shook his head, "Look closer," now more than a little curious, she obliged leaning forward to peer at the page he stopped on, she wasn't sure what she was looking for until she found it.

"It's you?" She gasped.

"Close, my ancestor."

"If this is your ancestors, then that makes you," her eyes widened, "That means it's true?"

"Yes, the stories you know aren't just stories, they're history." He flipped through the pages and she looked at the pictures in a new light with this knowledge. He stopped on a page with a depiction of the Kings and Queens of Old. "Here's where history changed, when the Kings and Queens of Old ushered in a new age of Narnia, the Golden Age. Shortly after they left the Telmarines invaded and my ancestors retreated into the woods, where they wait for the new royals to lead them, as the prophecy foretold."

His tone changed and she looked up from the book to see him staring at her, "Why are you telling me all this?"

"Because," he said gently, slowly so she heard every word, "Narnia was never more at peace, than when a Son of Adam and Daughter of Eve sat upon the thrones," she looked at him in pure confusion and perhaps a bit of fear.

"What are you saying Professor?"

"I am saying," his hand covered hers in a gesture of comfort, "You two, could be the new hope for Narnia's future."

She huffed, "You can't be serious,"

"If you love Caspian as you say you do, and as he does you, I'm afraid it's your destiny."

She gaped, "How? When? Did- Does Caspian know?"

"He knows that as King there are certain duties he must uphold."

"King?" She gasped, although she knew that the title was in Caspian's future but hearing it spoken so easily made it feel like much more of a reality.

"Yes, and if fate persists, you as his Queen."

"I can't," she shook her head, standing up and backing away from the table, "I can't do this."

"I understand this is a lot. But it's something you must know."

"I need to go."

"Please," Professor Cornelius took her hand again, gently blocking her escape, "I know it's overwhelming, but I have every faith in Aslan and his plan for you, both of you. And you should too, please don't discuss this with Caspian just yet." He was so earnest that she really did want to listen to him, but this was too much information and too much of it included her for her to just take it all in, in such little time.

All throughout the rest of her shift she thought about what Professor Cornelius told her, Steph had to work the dining hall tonight and she hid from Bruno whereas she would normally seek him out in her friend's absence she had too much on her mind and the guard was far too good at reading her for her comfort.

By the time she went to Caspian's room, an hour or so before she normally did she was ready to burst with anxiety.

As was becoming tradition Caspian stood when she entered his study and was prepared to greet her with a kiss but he stopped, she assumed because of the look on her face. He approached her quickly, taking her face in his hands and looking her over. She watched the question form in his eyes but cut him off before he could ask it.

"Do you intend to marry me?" She blurted out before she could think better of it.

His face betrayed his confusion, "What?"

"Do you intend to marry me?" She asked again and before he could respond again to ask her where the thought had come from and why it was causing her such distress she went on, "I served your uncle today at tea time, and he said something in the old language and I think he recognized my necklace, when went to visit professor Cornelius he came in and I think he knows it was from you, the Professor thinks that it's a good thing."

During her verbal regurgitation of the afternoon her breathing had sped up, Caspian was following what she was saying with an ever hardening gaze and his jaw set even as his hands settled on her shoulders rubbing them gently, "He told me that, fate has a plan for us, for us to be married, for you to be King and for me to be," she trailed off unable to say the word, just the thought of it made it hard to breathe.

"My light, calm down, look at me," Caspian said firmly but gently, taking her face in his hands again. She didn't even realize that she's gone from looking into his dark eyes to staring at his chest, he guided her eyes back up to his, "Look at me, alright?" then he took her hands on his and placed them on his chest over his calmly beating heart, and it was then she took note of how fast hers was pounding, "Breathe with me." he instructed taking a few deep breaths to show her how it was done, "Good, just keep looking at me." His voice was like a balm to her nerves and after a few moments of him helping her to breathe again she started to return to normal.

"Is it true?" she asked shyly.

Caspian sighed deeply and squeezed the back of her hands which were still cupped in his resting on his chest, "I asked him to wait so I could tell you myself,"

"It's true!?"

"Listen to me," he said sternly before she could begin to spiral again, "I am the rightful heir to the throne, and Aslan willing I'll be able to claim it, soon." He brought her left hand up to kiss it, "That is my future, and I want you to be a part of it, in any way that you can." He kissed her hand again and her breathing began to speed up for an entirely different reason. "I love you more than anything, and yes I do want you to be my wife, but if you do not want to be Queen then I understand. But I don't see my future without you in it, and I hope you feel the same?"

"I do," she spoke honestly, realizing that she did indeed want to marry Caspian, "But it's all just so much."

"I know," he said, his hands coming to rest on her hips now that her breathing had returned to normal, "Which is why I wanted to tell you myself, Professor Cornelius believes that because it's our fate it can't be avoided. But I would never ask any more of you than you are willing to give."

"I know." She admitted with a sigh it was one of the things she loved most about him, " Can we just go to bed?" It was still fairly early in the night but she was mentally and emotionally exhausted.

"Of course." Caspian responded before pressing a kiss to her forehead, "Just let me finish up here, I'll meet you."

She nodded and lingered a moment longer so he could kiss her again before heading beyond his study to his bedchambers. She stripped down to her undershift and crawled into the bed, laying on her side and toying with her necklace. She could hear Caspian rustling around in his study and it took a few long moments before she heard him enter the bedroom, she listened to him complete his nightly routine before the bed dipped behind her and his warm body settled in next to hers, she even felt like she was breathing better when he pulled her closer, his chest meeting her back so he could feel her heartbeat.

It was silent in the room aside from the rustle of his falcon or the odd creak from the castle. Caspian was the one to break it.

"What did my uncle say at tea?" he asked, fingers that had slipped beneath her shift trailing lightly over her stomach.

"I don't know," she replied honestly, "I couldn't understand,"

"What did it sound like?" She tried her best to repeat some of the words spat by Miraz earlier in the day and was dismal at best. The way Caspian stiffened told her that her pronunciation wasn't too far off and she was right to assume that the men were insulting her.

"What does it mean?" she asked rolling on her side to face him. He released her enough for her to do so and when she met his eyes there was an emotion running through them that she'd seen only once before. Anger. "Cas, what did he say?"

"Nothing that bears repeating." he said trying to sooth them both as his fingertips down her arm, "Will you do something for me?"

"Of course,"

He sighed and she could briefly see him mulling the thought in his head, "I want you to be prepared for anything that comes." He paused and she waited for him to collect his thoughts, "You trust Bruno?"

"Of course," she responded without giving it a second thought.

"I want you to ask him to train you," he saw the confusion in her eyes and continued, "Nothing too serious, just the basics. I want you to be able to protect yourself whenever he or I can't be there."

That made enough sense to her, of course she wanted him to be the one to train her. But Bruno could get away with it without rousing too much suspicion, especially if she convinced Steph to tag along, so she nodded. "Okay."

It seemed for a moment that the weight that rested perpetually on his shoulders seemed to lighten just a little at the knowledge that she wouldn't argue with him on this, "Thank you." He breathed, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

He settled into his back and pulled her closer. Adopting a familiar position of her head laying in his chest, one of his legs between hers while it was thrown over his waist. His arm curled around her back to toy with her hair.

I used Google translate for the Spanish, 😅

Recuerdo una época en que las criadas servían para más de un propósito. ~ I remember a time when maids served more than one purpose.

Cuando tome el trono, Estas mujeres serán las putas que nacieron para ser. ~ When I take the throne, These women will be the whores they were born to be.